Intermittent hypoxia inhibits mandibular cartilage growth with reduced TGF-β and SOX9 expressions in neonatal rats.

Intermittent hypoxia (IH) has been associated with skeletal growth. However, the influence of IH on cartilage growth and metabolism is unknown. We compared the effects of IH on chondrocyte proliferation and maturation in the mandibular condyle fibrocartilage and tibial hyaline cartilage of 1-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats.

Intermittent hypoxia retards mandibular growth and alters RANKL expression in adolescent and juvenile rats.

Objectives: Chronic intermittent hypoxia (IH), a common state experienced in obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), retards mandibular growth in adolescent rats. The aim of this study was to elucidate the differential effects of IH on mandibular growth in different growth stages.

Materials And Methods: Three-week-old (juvenile stage) and 7-week-old (adolescent stage) male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent IH for 3 weeks.